It is Halloween Time in Smithville

It is the week before Halloween, and Mrs. Lamper, the Smithville School teacher, is having
a very hard time keeping her students on task.  They have, evidently, been sneaking samples from
the Halloween, Trick-or-Treat candy supplies at their homes.   They all seem to be on
sugar highs.  Either that, or they have been watching too many scary political advertisements, and
it has made them all on edge.  Those ads are, after all, very frightful!

So Mrs. Lamper, in desperation, has dispensed with regular assignments, and is introducing
an entirely new project for all her students.

"Now students, I have raided Mrs. Smith's craft room and have found some interesting supplies in
her scrap basket.  I have found various colored papers, cardboard, tape, glue, fabric scraps, ribbon
scraps, some little baskets , and some beads.

I want each one of you to decide on one graphic design that symbolizes Halloween for you.  Then
I would like for you to use the markers that I found to draw a large picture of your design.
After that you should write a short description of how that symbolizes Halloween.  You can make
it into a poem if you like.  The last thing I would like for you to do is create a matching costume
for yourself that you can wear for trick-or-treating.

We will display these here at school until our all-school Halloween party.  Then you may take
everything home to decorate your house for Halloween night.  And you may wear your costumes
for trick-or-treating.  If you want, you may work with your brother or sister, to make one
display for your home.",

Well, the students were so excited.  They loved the idea and the chance to work on their own.
You have never seen such industrious students.  They thought and thought, then they painted pictures.
The pictures were so colorful and attractive that they were inspired them to write about their chosen
Halloween symbol.

But most exciting of all was choosing supplies from the scrap basket to create their very own
Halloween costumes.  Mrs. Lamper was so pleased with the outcome that she decided to
allow voting for the very best results of this day's work.

Following you will see the finished projects.  You can vote for your favorite by leaving a comment.

Project Number 1.  Created by Corey and Cathy Switcher.

This was the project completed by Corey and Cathy Switcher, and their be-wigged dog!  They
selected Trick-or-Treaters as their symbol.

Number 2.  This next project was completed by Freddy Sewell.  He painted a picture of an owl
and wrote about owls.  His Halloween costume included an owl's head made from a basket.

Project number 3.  Penelope Prescott is new to Smithville School.  But I think you will agree she
did a lovely job on her project symbol, the Pumpkin.

She wrote: "Yellow pumpkin , yellow moon,
                  Yellow candlelight.
                   It is so fun being scared
                   On Halloween night."

Her costume:

Number 4 .  This project belongs to Harriet and Annie Lamper.  They think that black cats

                   are the perfect Halloween symbol

                 Black cats with yellow eyes and long, curly tails.

                 They ride on witches broomsticks

                  And scratch with their long toe nails!

The students can't wait until Monday to have their party at school, and then take their costumes

and pictures home for an exciting night of trick-or-treating.  Vote for the best, if you would like

by commenting on Facebook.

CHAPTER NINE "New Folks In Town"

     September was a pleasant month for all the residents of Smithville.  On most days sunshine came in the windows, music played on the radio and blended with the sounds of lawn mowers busily working outside.  Now October is here, and with it comes some exciting news, but upsetting news for some.

     Last week Tess Endrews arrived at the Sewell's house with a letter for Elizabeth. And Elizabeth
couldn't believe what she was reading!

     The letter was from Elizabeth's mother and father, Phillip and Pamela Prescott.  The big news was that Phillip and Pamela would be arriving that day for an extended stay in Smithville.  It seems that the
Prescott's son and daughter-in-law (he being Elizabeth's older brother)  were being taken to Africa with
a missionary family for an extended stay at a missionary school.  They had decided that the extended stay would be too long for their daughter, Penelope.  So they decided to leave her with her grandparents.
     And Phillip and Pamela had decided to come stay with Elizabeth and Frederick, so that Penelope would have the company of her cousins, and the grandparents would have the child care assistance .
AND THEY WERE ARRIVING TODAY!
     "Frederick, Frederick, Come
 here!  You won't believe what is happening.  And it is going to
happen TODAY!"
     Well, if I tell you that Frederick was just a bit upset at the news, then I am the master of the understatement.  Frederick was horrified.  He had no desire to share his home with his in-laws....
for an extended  period of time. Besides, there really wasn't enough room in their house.

     "Elizabeth, exactly how long will they be here?"

     " Well, I don't know exactly, but Mother does mention the the missionary's term of service is
at least one school year."

     "YEAR!" shouted Frederick.  "NO, it is impossible"

     Elizabeth was wringing her hands and tears were threatening to spill.  From the kitchen Claire was observing their distress.  Now, you must understand that Claire has always been a very resourceful girl. She has had to be, handling all the crises that erupt in the Sewell household.
     She long ago had managed to acquire her own living space, so that she could have her own
days away from all the drama of the Sewell household.  Claire had bartered with the local Bed and Breakfast to have her own bedroom in the carriage house attached to the Hollyhock Hill Bed and Breakfast, in exchange for doing some cooking and laundry work.
     " I think I could get you a good rate on rooms at the Hollyhock Hill.  They aren't very busy right now, and would be especially interested in a long term stay."
     "Oh, could you?  Would you?  Frederick was quite excited.
      So the three of them hurried over to the bed and breakfast.  After inspecting the rooms, they
were excited to learn that they could rent them for a very reasonable rate.  And the owners were delighted to have good renters for at least a year.
     Later that day, all the Prescotts arrived, and Elizabeth was really happy to see her family again.
And Frederick was very relieved to show them their lovely rooms at the Hollyhock Hill Bed and Breakfast.

   
 And, oh yes, they brought their dogs, too!